Benny Moldovanu

Professor Benny Moldovanu is a distinguished economist at the University of Bonn, holding a professorship in the Department of Economics within the Faculty of Economics. He serves as a Principal Investigator in the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy and has been a cluster member since 2019. His leadership roles include co-director of the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics and academic director and spokesperson of the Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE). Additionally, he is one of the two directors of the Reinhard Selten Institute.

Moldovanu received his doctorate in economics from the University of Bonn after studying mathematics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His academic career has been centered at the University of Bonn where he has built a significant research program and trained numerous successful economists.

His research focuses on theoretical foundations of economics, market design, and behavior, with particular expertise in auctions and mechanism design. Moldovanu's work explores how economic agents interact in strategic settings, how institutions can be designed to achieve desirable outcomes, and how behavioral factors influence economic decisions. His research spans both theoretical developments and practical applications in various economic contexts.

An analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on voting theory, auction design, and mechanism design. His work increasingly incorporates behavioral elements and examines complex institutional settings. The research shows progression from foundational theoretical work to more applied contexts, including political economy, insurance markets, and multi-dimensional decision making.

• Winner of the first AEA Best Paper Award for AEJ: Microeconomics

Moldovanu has advised an extensive list of doctoral students who have gone on to prestigious academic positions worldwide. His research group includes several postdocs and has received significant funding through various research collaborations. His work is supported by multiple research centers including the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics, Collaborative Research Center Transregio 224, and the Bonn Graduate School of Economics.

His research team operates within the Department of Economics at the University of Bonn, collaborating closely with the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics and the Bonn Graduate School of Economics. The group maintains strong international connections through the European Doctoral Program and partnerships with institutions like UC Berkeley and Yale University.